SW News: In the Asian city-state of Singapore, the parliament is preparing to debate a bill seeking a constitutional amendment to protect the traditional definition of marriage. It was on October 20 that the bill was tabled before lawmakers for their consent.

More than two-thirds of parliamentarians have to support the bill for the constitution to be amended. It is expected that the debate over the legislation will take place in the House next month. As many as 83 out of 94 lawmakers belong to the ruling People’s Action Party. So, it is expected that there will not be many hurdles for the bill to be passed.

At present, the city-state only grants recognition to marriages between a man and a woman. It is this definition that makes a mark on policies with regard to housing, education, adoption and film classification. However, legal experts believe that this traditional definition can be questioned in courts. This is the reason why parliamentarians want to amend the constitution and protect the definition of marriage in order to block same-sex marriages.

While it seeks to protect the traditional marriage, Singapore lawmakers are preparing to debate a bill that will repeal a law criminalizing sex between homosexuals. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on August 21 that “the Minister for Law and the Attorney General have advised that in a future court challenge, there is a significant risk of 377 A being struck down on the grounds that it breaches the equal protection provision in the Constitution.”

The law prohibiting gay sex became part of the Penal Code in 1938 during the days of British rule. However, it does not make sex between women a crime. The authorities have not enforced this law for decades.